The Press., 1887-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. D. c. Feb. IS

Washington, ID. c. Feb ls 1887.
 Various questions have been before con gress during the week. The Eads' ship railway bill has been discussed retaliation talk towards Canada has been induleed in :: the trade dollar has been viudicated so far us the house is concerned the river and harbor bill has been debated the needs of the district of Columbia have had some at- tention the late Senator Pike of New Hampshire has been the subject of memo rial service in the senate, while Gen. Logan was being eulogized in the house. and ma val affairs have occupied much of the tim 6 of the law makers of the upper branch.
 The knowing ones are still busy prepar- ing new cabinet slate, although it is now conceded that tue change in the treasury portfolio IS the ouly one that will be made Minister Pendleton, ex-Seuator Mcdonald, and Assistant Secretary Fairchild are those oftenest mentioned as probabilities. Speak CT Carlisle is the latest addition to the list. He is regarded as a dangerous dark horse. Bpth the senate and house expect to at tack the presidents veto of lhe dependent pension bill. There is some doubt, how ever about their ability to override it. as the democrats of both branches are consol- idating in its support. The bill passed both houses by more than two thirds ma tjority, but some democrats confess to hay ing weakened since then. Some say they voted for the bill against their conviction, others that the veto message has converted Many of the best informed members of congress think now that there will be no extra session. Nothing they say, but a failure to pass the regular appropriations would necessita'e an extra session, and they will get through in good time. The unsettled question of a treasury surplus and others, important as they are, cannot, 1t is believed bring about an extra session of congress.
 What may be done this session in regard to new avy and coast defenses no one can say. The senate has done nobly, and its bills appropriating millions for this purpose are at the mercy now of the dem ocratic house committee on appropriations. This all powerful committee, dominated by the genius of penuriousness, Mir. Sam uel Randall, has shown no disposition yet to respond to thesenate's wishes, and it is more than probable that the session will slip away and leave the matter just as il stands.
 When the senate was discussing bill for the increase of the naval establishment, Senator Vest reiterated his time worn spec ch about the republican party being responsible for the present condition oi the navy, Senator Hale, of Maine, who has often answered Mir. Vests sallies on this subject. replied to him again.
 He remarked that during the twenty years spoken of by the senator from Mis-. souri, the republican party had only been in full control of the government eight years. The democrats at the other end of the capitol had always thrown themselves athWart auy proposition to strengthen the navy. He calico attention to the fact that although the republican party had lost control of the administration, the republi. can senate was to-day voting literally, and perhaps lavishly, for the navy and coast d. fenses, and leaving the expenditure of ihese vast sums in the hands of a demo. cratic administration. This attitude was just in opposition to the attitude of the democratic party for years past.
 Senator Hawley of Conn. said he vel. comed an opportunity of placing money iu the hands of democratic administration because during the sixteen years that he had been in congress he had heard succes. sive republican secretaries of the navy de. nounced and viliied beyond human en- durance. The republicans had never failed to challenge investigation to dare accusers to put their hands on any acts oi corruption on the part of their secretaries of the navy. There had been investiga. tions, and they had resulted in nothing. During the eight or ten years that the house has been in control of the democrat. ic party, scores of measures for the good of the country have passed the senate and been consigned to the tomb of the capu- lets ln the house. They always met with spirit of determined opposition and de, struction.